Context
Telangana government is demanding a uniform paddy procurement policy after the announcement made by the Centre that it was stopping the purchase of excess parboiled rice, of which Telangana is a major producer.
What is parboiled rice?
- Parboiled rice refers to rice that has been partially boiled at the paddy stage, before milling.
- Parboiling of rice is not a new practice, and has been followed in India since ancient times.
- However, there is no specific definition of parboiled rice of the Food Corporation of India or the Food Ministry.
- Generally, all varieties can be processed into parboiled rice, but it is ideal to use long slender varieties to prevent breakage during milling.
Benefits
- Parboiling makes rice tougher, thus reducing the chances of the rice kernel breaking during milling.
- Parboiling also increases the nutrient value of the rice.
- Such rice has a higher resistance to insects and fungi.
Disadvantages
- The rice becomes darker and may smell unpleasant due to prolonged soaking.
- Besides, setting up a parboiling rice milling unit requires a higher investment than a raw rice milling unit.
